ofproddingtroopsincreasedwiththeareaofdisturbances。’Ihaverequested
　　thateveryeffortmaybemadetoreinforcethetroopsinthewesternpart
　　ofSussex，’wroteSirRobertPeeltoaHorshammagistrateon18thNovember，
　　’andyoumayjudgeofthedifficultyofdoingso，whenImentiontoyouthat
　　themostexpeditiousmodeofeffectingthisistobringfromDorchesterthe
　　onlycavalryforcethatisintheWestofEngland。This，however，shallbe
　　done，and100meninfantryshallbebroughtfromtheGarrisonofPortsmouth。’
　　UntilthemiddleofNovembertherisingwasconfinedtoKent，Sussexand
　　partsofSurrey，withoccasionalfiresandthreateninglettersinneighbouring
　　counties。Afterthattimethedisturbancesbecamemoreserious，spreading
　　notonlytotheWestofSussex，buttoBerkshire，Hampshire，andWiltshire。
　　On22ndNovembertheDukeofBuckinghamwrotefromAdingtoninHampshire
　　tothedukeofWellington：’Nothingcanbeworsethanthestateofthisneighbourhood。
　　Imaysaythatthispartofthecountryiswhollyinthehandsoftherebels……
　　1500riotersaretoassembleto-morrowmorning，andwillattackanyfarmhouses
　　wheretherearethreshingmachines。Theygoaboutlevyingcontributionson
　　everygentleman’shouse。Thereareveryfewmagistrates；andwhatthereare
　　arecompletelycowed。Inshort，somethingdecisivemustinstantlybedone。’
　　Therisingsinthesecountiesdifferedinsomerespectsfromtherisingin
　　KentandSussex。Thedisturbanceswerenotsomuchlikethefiringofatrain
　　ofdiscontent，theywereratherasuddenandspontaneousexplosion。They
　　lastedonlyaboutaweek，andwerewelldescribedinareportofColonel
　　Brotherton，oneofthetwomilitaryexpertssentbyLordMelbournetoWiltshire
　　toadvisethemagistrates。Hewroteon28thNovember：’Theinsurrectionary
　　movementseemstobedirectedbynoplanorsystem，butmerelyactuatedby
　　thespontaneousfeelingofthepeasantryandquiteatrandom。’Thelabourers
　　wentaboutinlargernumbers，combiningwiththedestructionofthreshing
　　machinesandthedemandforhigherwagesaclaimfor’satisfaction’asthey
　　calleditintheformofreadymoney。Itwastheirpracticetocharge£；2
　　forbreakingathreshingmachine，butinsomecasesthemobsweresatisfied
　　withafewcoppers。Thedemandforreadymoneywasnotanewfeature，for
　　manycorrespondentsoftheHomeOfficenoteintheirlettersthatthemobs
　　leviedmoneyinKentandSussex，buthithertothis’sturdybegging，’asCobbett
　　calledit，hadbeenregardedbythemagistratesasunimportant。Thewages
　　demandedinthesecountieswere2s。aday，whereasthedemandsinKentand
　　usuallyinSussexhadbeenfor2s。6d。or2s。3d。Wageshadfallentoalower
　　levelinHampshire，BerkshireandWiltshire。ThecurrentrateinWiltshire
　　was7s。，andColonelMair，thesecondofficersentdownbytheHomeOffice，
　　reportedthatwagesweresometimesaslowas6s。Itisthereforenotsurprising
　　tolearnthatintwoparishesthelabourersinsteadofaskingfor2s。aday，
　　askedonlyfor8s。or9s。aweek。InBerkshirewagesvariedfrom7s。to9s。，
　　andinHampshiretheusualrateseemstohavebeen8s。
　　TherisinginHampshirewasmarkedbyaconsiderabledestructionofproperty。
　　AtFordingbridge，themobundertheleadershipofamancalledCooper，broke
　　upthemachinerybothatasackingmanufactoryandatamanufactoryofthreshing
　　machines。Cooperwassoonclothedininnumerablelegends：hewasagipsy，
　　amysteriousgentleman，possiblytherenowned’Swing’himself。AttheFordingbridge
　　riotsherodeonhorsebackandassumedthetitleofCaptainHunt。Hisfollowers
　　addressedhimbareheaded。Inpointoffacthewasanagriculturallabourer
　　ofgoodcharacter，anativeofEastGrimsteadinWilts，whohadservedin
　　theartilleryintheFrenchWar。Sometwomonthsbeforetheriotshiswife
　　hadrobbedhim，andthenelopedwithaparamour。Thisunhingedhisself-control；
　　hegavehimselfuptodrinkanddespair，andtriedtoforgethismiseryin
　　recklessrioting。NearAndoveragainafoundrywasdestroyedbyamob，after
　　theringleader，Gilmore，hadenteredthejustices’roomatAndover，where
　　thejusticesweresitting，andtreatedwiththemonbehalfofthemob。Gilmore
　　alsowasalabourer；hewastwenty-fiveyearsoldandhadbeenasoldier。
　　ThemostinterestingeventintheHampshirerisingwasthedestruction
　　oftheworkhousesatSelborneandHeadley。Littleisreportedofthedemolition
　　ofthepoorhouseatSelborne。Theindictmentofthepersonsaccusedoftaking
　　partinitfellthroughontechnicalgrounds，andasthedefendantswere
　　alsothepersonschargedwithdestroyingtheHeadleyworkhouse，theprosecution
　　intheSelbornecasewasabandoned。ThemobfirstwenttoMr。Cobbold，Vicar
　　ofSelborne，anddemandedthatheshouldreducehistithes，tellinghimwith
　　somebluntness’wemusthaveatouchofyourtithes：wethink£；300a
　　yearquiteenoughforyou……£；4aweekisquiteenough。’Mr。Cobbold
　　wasthoroughlyalarmed，andconsentedtosignapaperpromisingtoreduce
　　histithes，whichamountedtosomethingover£；600，byhalfthatsum。
　　Themobwereaccompaniedbyagoodmanyfarmerswhohadagreedtoraisewages
　　ifthelabourerswouldundertaketoobtainareductionoftithes，andthese
　　farmerssignedthepaperalso。AfterMr。Cobbold’ssurrenderthemobwent
　　ontotheworkhouseatHeadley，whichservedtheparishesofBramshott，Headley
　　andKingsley。TheirleaderwasacertainRobertHoldaway，awheelwright，
　　whohadbeenforashorttimeapublican。Hewasawidower，witheightsmall
　　children，describedbythewitnessesathistrialasamanofexcellentcharacter，
　　quiet，industrious，andinoffensive。Themasteroftheworkhousegreeted
　　Holdawaywith’What，Holdy，areyouhere？’’Yes，butImeanyounoharmnor
　　yourwifenoryourgoods：sogetthemoutassoonasyoucan，forthehouse
　　mustcomedown。’Themasterwarnedhimthattherewereoldpeopleandsick
　　childreninthehouse。Holdawaypromisedthattheyshouldbeprotected，asked
　　wheretheywere，andsaidthewindowwouldbemarked。Whatfollowedisdescribed
　　intheevidencegivenbythemasteroftheworkhouse：’Therewasnotaroom
　　leftentire，exceptthatinwhichthesickchildrenwere。Thesewereremoved
　　intotheyardontwobeds，andcoveredover，andkeptfromharmallthetime。
　　Thiswasdonebythemob。Theywerelefttherebecausetherewasnoroom
　　fortheminthesickward。Thesickwardwasfullofinfirmoldpaupers。
　　Itwasnottouched，butofalltherestoftheplacenotaroomwasleft
　　entire。’Thefarmerslookedonwhilstthedestructionproceeded，andone
　　atleastofthelabourersinthemobdeclaredafterwardsthathismaster
　　hadforcedhimtojoin。
　　InWiltshirealsothedestructionofpropertywasnotconfinedtothreshing
　　machines。AtWilton，themob，undertheleadershipofacertainJohnJennings，
　　agedeighteen，16*whodeclaredthathe’wasgoingtobreakthemachinery
　　tomakemoreworkforthepoorpeople，’did£；500worthofdamagein
　　awoollenmill。AnotherclothfactoryatQuidhamptonwasalsoinjured；in
　　thisaffairanactivepartwastakenbyaboyevenyoungerthanJennings，
　　JohnFord，whowasonlyseventeenyearsold。17*
　　TheriotwhichattractedmostattentionofallthedisturbancesinWiltshire
　　tookplaceatPytHouse，theseatofMr。JohnBenett，M。P。forthecounty。
　　Mr。Benettwasawell-knownlocalfigure，andhadgivenevidencebeforeseveral
　　CommitteesonPoorLaws。Thedepthofhissympathywiththelabourersmay
　　begaugedbythethreatthatheutteredbeforetheCommitteeof1817topull
　　downhiscottagesifParliamentshouldmakelengthofresidencealegalmethod
　　ofgainingasettlement。SomememberoftheCommitteesuggestedthatifthere
　　werenocottagestherewouldbenolabourers，butMr。Benettrepliedcheerfully
　　enoughthatitdidnotmattertoalabourerhowfarhewalkedtohiswork：
　　’Ihavemanylabourerscomingthreemilestomyfarmeverymorningduring
　　thewinter，thehoursweresixtosix’andtheyarethemostpunctualpersons
　　wehave。’Atthetimehegavethisevidence，hestatedthataboutthree-quarters
　　ofthelabouringpopulationinhisparishofTisburyreceivedrelieffrom
　　thepoorratesinaidofwages，andhedeclaredthatitwasuselesstolet
　　themsmallparcelsofland。Theconditionofthepoorhadnotimprovedin
　　Mr。Benett’sparishbetween1817and1830，andLordArundel，wholivedin
　　it，describeditas’aParishinwhichthePoorhavebeenmoreoppressed
　　andareingreatermiseryasawholethananyParishintheKingdom。’18*
　　ItisnotsurprisingthatwhenthenewsofwhathadbeenachievedinKent
　　andSussexspreadwesttoWiltshire，thelabourersofTisburyrosetodemand
　　2s。aday，andtodestroythethreshingmachines。Amoboffivehundredpersons
　　collected，andtheirfirstactwastodestroyathreshingmachine，withthe
　　sanctionoftheowner，Mr。Turner，whosatbyonhorseback，watchingthem。
　　TheyafterwardsproceededtothePytHouseestate。Mr。Benettmetthem，parleyed
　　androdewiththemforsomeway；theybehavedpolitelybutfirmly，telling
　　himtheirintentions。Oneincidentthrowsalightonthemindsoftheactors
　　inthesescenes。’Ithen，’saidMr。Benettafterwards，’pointedouttothem
　　thattheycouldnottrusteachother，foranyman，Isaid，byinformingagainst
　　tenofyouwillobtainatonce£；500。’Itwasanadroitspeech，butas
　　ithappenedtheWiltshirelabourers，halfstarved，degradedandbrutalised，
　　astheymightbe，hadadifferentstandardofhonourfromthatimaginedby
　　thismagistrateandmemberofParliament，andthedevilishtemptationhe
　　setbeforethemwasrejected。Themobdestroyedvariousthreshingmachines
　　onMr。Benett’sfarms，andrefusedtodisperse；atlast，afteragooddeal
　　ofsharplanguagefromMr。Benett，theythrewstonesathim。Atthesame
　　timeatroopofyeomanryfromHindoncameupandreceivedorderstofire
　　blankcartridgesabovetheheadsofthemob。Thisonlyproducedlaughter；
　　theyeomanrythenbegantocharge；themobtookshelterintheplantations
　　roundPytHouseandstonedtheyeomanry，whorepliedbyafierceonslaught，
　　shootingonemandeadonthespot，19*woundingsixbycuttingofffingers
　　andopeningskulls，andtakingagreatnumberofprisoners。Attheinquest
　　atTisburyonthemanJohnHarding，whowaskilled，thejuryreturnedaverdict
　　ofjustifiablehomicide，andthecoronerrefusedtograntawarrantforburial，
　　sayingthattheman’sactionwasequivalenttofelodese。Huntstatedin
　　theHouseofCommonsthattheforemanofthejurywasthefatherofoneof
　　theyeomen。
　　Wehaveseenthatinthesecountiesthemagistratestookaverygrave
　　viewofthecrimeoflevyingmoneyfromhouseholders。Thiswasoftendone
　　bycasualbandsofmenandboys，whohadlittleconnectionwiththeorganised
　　rising。AnexaminationofthecasesdescribedbeforetheSpecialCommissions
　　givestheimpressionthatinpointoffacttherewasverylittledangerto
　　personorproperty。Afarmer’swifeatAstonTirroldinBerkshiredescribed
　　herownexperiencetotheAbingdonSpecialCommission。Amobcametoher
　　houseanddemandedbeer。Herhusbandwasoutandshewenttothedoor。’Bennett
　　wasspokesman。Hesaid“Nowalittleofyourbeerifyouplease。”
　　Ianswered“Notadrop。”Heasked“Why？”andIsaid“I
　　cannotgivebeertoencourageriot。”Bennettsaid“Whyyoudon’t
　　callthisriotingdoyou？”Isaid“Idon’tknowwhatyoucallit，
　　butitisanumberofpeopleassembledtogethertoalarmothers：butdon’t
　　thinkI’mafraidordauntedatit。”Bennettsaid“Supposeyour
　　premisesshouldbesetonfire？”Isaid“ThenIcertainlyshould
　　bealarmedbutIdon’tsupposeeitherofyouintendsdoingthat。”Bennett
　　said“No，wedonotintendanysuchthing，Idon’twishtoalarmyou
　　andwearenotcomewiththeintentionofmischief。”’Theresultof
　　thedialoguewasthatBennettandhispartywenthomewithoutbeerandwithout
　　givingtrouble。
　　Itwasnaturalthatwhenmob-beggingofthiskindbecamefashionable，
　　unpopularindividualsshouldbesingledoutforroughandthreateningvisits。
　　Sometimestheassistantoverseersweretheobjectsofspecialhatred，sometimes
　　theparson。ItisworthwhiletogivethefactsofacaseatSt。MaryBourne
　　inHampshire，becausestresswaslaiduponitinthesubsequentprosecutions
　　asaninstanceofextraordinaryviolence。Theclergyman，Mr。Easton，was
　　notafavouriteinhisparish，andhepreachedwhatthepoorregardedas
　　aharshandahostilesermon。Whentheparishrose，amoboftwohundred
　　forcedtheirwayintothevicarageanddemandedmoney，someofthemrepeating，
　　’Moneyorblood。’Mrs。Easton，whowasratheraninvalid，MissLucyEaston，
　　andMasterEastonweredownstairs，andMrs。Eastonwassomuchalarmedthat
　　shesentLucyupstairstofetch10s。MeanwhileMr。Eastonhadcomedown，
　　andwaslisteningtosomeextremelyunsympatheticcriticismsofhisperformances
　　inthepulpit。’Damnyou，’saidDanielSimms，20*’wherewillyourtext
　　benextSunday？’WilliamSimmswasequallybluntanduncompromising。Meanwhile
　　Lucyhadbroughtdownthehalf-sovereign，andMrs。EastongaveittoWilliam
　　Simms，21*whothereuponcried’Allout，’andthemoblefttheEastonsat